Artist&#39;s kit



J. R. MONSOUR ARTIST'S KIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1963 Feb. 2,1965 J. R. MONSOUR 3,168,363

ARTIST'S KIT Filed May 24, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (X; :14/14552 mo/msoae, BY

ATTOEA/S'Y 9.

United States Patent 3,168,363 ARTISTS KIT James R. Monsour, 6260 SW.21st St., Miami, Fla. Filed May 24, 1963, Ser. No. 283,065 4 Claims.(Cl. 312-231) This invention relates to equipment for artists, and moreparticularly to a portable cabinet device for art equipment which may beset up at times to serve as an easel.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedartists cabinet which is adapted to be employed to store and transportartists materials and which is arranged so that it may be easily andrapidly set up as an easel, if so desired, the device being of simpleconstruction, being of relatively inexpensive materials, and beingcompact in size.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved artistscabinet which is convertible into an easel, the cabinet being relativelylight in weight, being of durable construction, being arranged so thatit can be set up as an easel without requiring the use of any tools, andhaving a wide range of adjustability.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved artists kit according tothe present invention, shown set up for use as an easel, and showing thepalette member thereof separated from the kit.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on theline 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional View taken substantially on theline 33 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken substantiallyon the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on theline 55 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view takensubstantially on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing the artists kit of FIGURES l to 6in its folded condition prepared for transportation or storage.

Referring to the drawing, the improved artists kit is designatedgenerally at 11, and comprises a rectangular main tray-like receptacle12 having a bottom wall 13, parallel upstanding sidewalls 14, 14 and anupstanding rear wall 15. The receptacle has a short upstanding lowerfront wall portion 16 and a hinged additional front wall portion 17 ofsubstantial width, the portion 17 being formed on its inside surfacewith a longitudinally extending groove or recess 18 shaped to receivebrushes, paint tubes, and similar artists material when the wall portion17 is in its forwardly extending horizontal position, shown in FIGURE 2.As shown in FIGURE 1, the inside front edge portions of the sidewalls14, 14 are recessed, as shown at 19, to define rightangled receivingcorners to receive the opposite ends of the hinged wall member 17, sothat said members can be folded flush with the lower front wall portion16, for example, as shown in FIGURE 7. The hinged member 17 is pivotallyconnected to the ends of the sidewalls 14, 14 by hinge pins 20 which arelocated adjacent the inside surface plane of the lower front wallportion 16 so that when the hinged wall member 17 is in its forwardlyextending horizontal position, shown in FIGURE 2, it will be supportedon the top edge of the stationary lower front wall portion 16.

Secured to the intermediate portion of the fixed lower front wallelement 16 is a generally U-shaped carrying handle 21 which is locatedadjacent to and which extends parallel to the longitudinal upper edge ofthe fixed lower wall portion 16, as viewed in FIGURE 2, so that thehanice dle 21 is located immediately beneath the hinged shelf member 17when said shelf member is in its horizontal, forwardly projectingposition shown in FIGURE 2.

Secured to the forward corner portions of the bottom Wall 13 are a pairof leg brackets 22, 22 formed with apertures 23 adapted to receive thetop pins 24 of respective supporting legs 25, 25, in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 2. A similar bracket 26 is secured to theintermediate portion of the rear margin of the bottom of wall 13, saidbracket 26 being formed with an aperture 27 adapted to receive theupstanding pin 24 on the top end of a similar leg 25. The leg-contactingsurfaces of the brackets 22, 22 and 26, and the apertures 23 and 27 areso oriented that the legs will be engaged with the brackets so as todiverge downwardly in the manner clearly illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and3. 1

The legs 25 are provided with detachable bottom extension portions 28which may be removed if it is desired to shorten the legs so as tosupport the member 12 at a lower elevation than that illustrated inFIGURES 1, 2 and 3.

Secured in the tray-like receptacle 12 are a pair of spaced upstandinglongitudinal partition walls 29 and 30, and secured transversely betweenthe upstanding partition members 29 and 30 are the parallel opposing ribmembers 31, 32 which extend upwardly above the top edges of the members29 and 30 and which are formed with opposing channels or grooves 33, 33adapted to slidably receive the opposite edge portions of a paletteboard 34.

The palette board 34 is thus engageable with the channels or grooves 33,33 to support the board in a retracted position within the tray-likereceptacle 12 when the palette board is not in use, but may be readilywithdrawn from the receptacle for use, when required. As shown in FIGURE1, the channels 33, 33 are located above the plane of the top edge ofthe forward partition wall member 30 so as to provide free accessthereto for inserting the edges of the palette board 34 into thechannels.

Designated at 35 is a rigid, generally rectangular cover member whoseside edges are slidably engageable in respective guide grooves 36, 36formed at the upper margins of the inside surfaces of the sidewalls 14,14, the cover 35 being of sulficient area to completely overlie the topof the tray-like receptacle 12 when its side edges are fully engaged inthe grooves 36, 36.

The cover member 35 is formed at its top edge, as viewed in FIGURE 2,with a rearwardly extending flange 37, and the member 35 is integrallyformed with a sleeve portion 38 extending perpendicular to the flange 37and slidably receiving a bar member 39 which extends through the flange37 and which is provided at its top end, as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 3with a forwardly extending hooked flange 40. The sleeve 38 is formedwith a longitudinal slot 41 through which extends a lug 42 formedintegrally on the lower end portion of the rod 39, and which threadedlyreceives a screw eye 43, as shown in FIGURE 6. The screw member 43 isemployed as a set screw to lock the bar 39 in an adjusted position inthe sleeve 38, so as to correspondingly lock the hookshaped flange 40 inengagement with the top edge of the frame of a canvas, or other articlesupported on the easel board 34. The board 34 is provided at its loweredge, as viewed in FIGURE 2, with a forwardly extending ledge 44 servingto support the bottom edge of a canvas frame or other article on theboard 34.

When the cover board 35 is received in the guide grooves 36, 36, the barmember 39 is completely retracted. Suflicient clearance is provided toallow the hinged wall portion 17 to be closed against the hooked flangemember 40 of the retracted bar member 39. As

will be readily understood, when the cover board 35 is inits coveringposition, the flange 37 is directed downwardly and inwardly into thereceptacle 12, and the sleeve 38 is on the underside of the cover board.

Designated at '45, '45 are respective circular blocks which arepivotally secured at their centers to opposing inside portions of thesidewalls 14, 14,.for example, by means of fastening screws 46, as shownin FIGURE 5.

The screws- 46 extend through the centers of the blockstS and throughthe sidewalls'14 and are provided on their outer portions with wing nuts47 which may be tightened to lock the oircularblock s 45 in desiredpositions of angular adjustment. The blocks 45 are formed with radialgrooves 47. The corner portions of the cover board 35 are formed withrectangular notches 48 defining edge portion-s49 extending parallel tothe side edges of the cover board which are slidably receivable in thera- I dial grooves 47 of the circular blocks '45.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the notches 4-8 provide clearance for the topedges of the sidewalls 14, sufficient clearance being provided toallowthe cover board 35 to be adjusted angularly over a wide range. Theblocks 45 are locked in the selected positions of angular adjustment bytightening the Wing nuts 47.

When the kit is in its closed position, preparatory for 'transponlationand storage, as shown in FIGURE 7, all

the parts thereof are contained inside, including the legs 25. When thekit is to be set up for use,-it is first opening the hinged front wallmember 17 to its horizontal position, as shown in FIGURE 2, andthe legsare engaged in the brackets 22, 22 and 26, whereby thejreceptacle 12 is,supported in an elevated position. The cover board rnaythen be engagedin the radially grooved blocks 45 andadjusted to the desired angle.The'wing nuts 47 are then tightened to lock the blocks 45 in thepositions of desired angular adjustment The bar 39 may then be releasedto elevate it to a position to clampingly engage the top edge of acanvas frame or other article tobe held on the easel. The palette board34 may 7 arranged horizontally, the cover 35 is removed, after Iii bewithdrawn 'so'that it can be held by'the artist in the usual mannerwhile he is at work. 7 7

As previously mentioned, all of the various articles required by theartist may be contained inside the kit when his not in use, for example,brushe -paint tubes, or the like. 1 While a specific embodiment of animproved antists kit has been disclosed in the foregoing description, itwill 1. An ar-tists kit comprising a main tray-like receptaclehaving'parallel upstanding side walls, 'an upstand-' ing rear wall, anda hinged'front wall, means to support said front wall in a forwardlyprojecting horizontal position, said front wall having a recessed insidesurface shaped to receive brushes and similar art-ists materials, theupper inside marginal portions of said sidewalls being formed with guidegrooves, a rigid. cover mema ber slidably engageable in said guidegrooves, a pair of supporting blocks, each formed with a groove, and

means to pivotally secure said blocks in opposing relationship to eachother to theinside surfaces of said side walls, said cover member beingformed with notches'at opposite ends of one-margin thereof todefinesubstantially parallel edge portions receivable in the grooves in theblocks with the top portions of said notches engaged on the top edges'ofsaid sidewalls to at times support said cover member in an upstandingposition between said side walls, whereby to define an easel.

2.' An artists kit comprising a main tray-like receptacle havingparallel upstanding side walls, an upstanding rear Wall and a hingedfront wall, means to support said front wall in a forwardly projectinghorizontal position, said front wall having a recessed inside surface.shaped to receive brushes and sirnilariantists materials, the upperinside marginal portions 'of'saidside walls being formed with guidegrooves, a rigid cover member slidably engageable in said guide'grooves,a pair of radially grooved supporting discs, and means to pivotallysecure said discs in opposing relation to the inside surfaces of saidside Walls, said cover-member having rectangular notches at its cornerportions at opposite ends of one margin thereof to define parallel edgeportions engageable'in the radial grooves of the discs, to support said'cover member in an upstanding position between said side walls, wherebyto define, an easel.

3. An artists kit comprising a main tray-like receptacle having parallelupstanding sidewalls, an upstanding rear wall and a hinged front wall,means to support said front wall in aforwar dly projectinghorizontalposition,

" said front wall having a recessed inside surfaceshaped to to define aneasel, at least three supporting legs, and

means to detachably secure said supporting legs to spaced 'po'intson thebottom of said traydike receptacle.

4. An artists "kit comprising a main tray-like receptacle havingparallelupstanding side walls, an upstanding rear wall and a hingedfront wall, means to support said front wall in a forwardly projectinghorizontal position, s'aidfront wall having a recessed inside surfaceshaped to receive brushes and similar artists materials, the upperinside marginal'portions of said side walls being formed with guidegrooves, a rigidco-ver member slidably en- 'gag'eable in said guidegrooves, a pair of radially grooved supporting discs, means to pivotallysecure said discs in opposing relation to the inside surfaces of saidside walls,

said cover member having rectangular notches at its corner portionsatopposite ends of one margin thereof to define parallel edge portionsengageable in the radial References 'Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES. PATENTS.

Zwiesler July 27, 1909 929,365 1,840,595 Moore Jan. 12, 1932 1,901,861Baker Mar. 21, 1933 2,l72;605 V Bourne Sept. 12,1939 2 ,414,433 BargenpIan. 21, 1947 2,672,391 Moore; Mar. 16, 1954

1. AN ARTIST''S KIT COMPRISING A MAIN TRAY-LIKE RECEPTACLE HAVINGPARALLEL UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS, AN UPSTANDING REAR WALL, AND A HINGEDFRONT WALL, MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID FRONT WALL IN A FORWARDLY PROJECTINGHORIZONTAL POSITION, SAID FRONT WALL HAVING A RECESSED INSIDE SURFACESHAPED TO RECEIVE BRUSHES AND SIMILAR ARTIST''S MATERIALS, THE UPPERINSIDE MARGINAL PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALLS BEING FORMED WITH GUIDEGROOVES, A RIGID COVER MEMBER SLIDABLY ENGAGEABLE IN SAID GUIDE GROOVES,A PAIR OF SUPPORTING BLOCKS, EACH FORMED WITH A GROOVE, AND MEANS TOPIVOTALLY SECURE SAID BLOCKS IN OPPOSING RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER TOTHE INSIDE SURFACES OF SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID COVER MEMBER BEING FORMEDWITH NOTCHES AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF ONE MARGIN THEREOF TO DEFINESUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL EDGE PORTIONS RECEIVABLE IN THE GROOVES IN THEBLOCKS WITH THE TOP PORTIONS OF SAID NOTCHES ENGAGED ON THE TOP EDGES OFSAID SIDE WALLS, TO AT TIMES SUPPORT SAID COVER MEMBER IN AN UPSTANDINGPOSITION BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, WHEREBY TO DEFINE AN EASEL.